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Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Calcium accumulation during the transition from puerulus to juvenile in the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

JWTJ Lemmens

Marine and Freshwater Research 46(6) 905 - 907
Published: 1995

Abstract

Dry weight in P. cygnus increases from 58.4 ± 5.4 mg in pueruli to 88.5 ± 11.9 mg in first-moult juveniles. Changes in ash-free dry weight, from 51.2 ± 4.9 mg in pueruli to 56.7 ± 9.5 mg in first-moult juveniles, are insufficient for the increase in dry weight to be attributable to accumulation of organic matter. The ash weight increased substantially after ecdysis of the puerulus (6.9 ± 2.3 mg for pueruli; 31.9 ± 2.8 mg for first-moult juveniles). This change may be attributed to the process of mineralization, which involves accumulation of calcium salts, and other mineral salts, as well as a range of organic components. Calcium contents, measured with flame emission, increased from 0.46 ± 0.06 mg in pueruli to 1.59 ± 0.26 mg in first-moult juveniles.

Histological studies showed substantial calcium deposits in the gastric mill and mouth region of the juvenile but not of the post-settlement puerulus. Since internal calcium reserves are small in the puerulus, calcium may initially be taken up directly from the sea water following ecdysis.

https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9950905

© CSIRO 1995

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